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Thomas Helwys

Thomas Helwys
Bornc. 1575
Diedc. 1616
Alma materGray's Inn
OccupationPastor
SpouseJoan Ashmore
Children7

Thomas Helwys (c. 1575 – c. 1616),[1] an English minister, was one of the joint founders, with John Smyth, of the General Baptist denomination. In the early 17th century, Helwys was the principal formulator of a demand that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals might have a freedom of religious conscience. He was an advocate of religious liberty at a time when to hold to such views could be dangerous. He died in prison as a consequence of the religious persecution of Protestant Dissenters under King James I.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Helwys, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12880. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

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